Wednesday, November 24, 2010

MABUHAY KA, ENTENG!

The true measure of a man as public servant is to put integrity above all else.

Vicente R. Romano III, or Enteng, as we call him, convened the Black and White Movement in 2005 to demand accountability and transparency from the government regarding shocking allegations of cheating by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the 2004 elections. Throughout the next five years, Enteng led us with sage counsel and kept us resolute in our quest for positive change, responsible and good governance.

After the successful presidential campaign of then Senator Benigno S. Aquino III, Enteng was invited by the President to serve in the new government as Department of Tourism Under Secretary for Planning and Promotions. We wished Enteng well as he took a leave of absence. Sadly, what we all hoped would be a successful stint in the DOT for Enteng came to an abrupt end yesterday.

Enteng’s resignation over the brouhaha created by his being, as he says, “in a hurry to see change happen in the motherland we all love” was not really a surprise to us. He lives by the Black and White Movement creed, the panata, he wrote, to quote in part - magbigay ng oras, talino at yaman sa ikabubuti ng kapwa… ako ay maninindigan para sa katotohanan, katarungan, at makabuluhang pagbabago. It was therefore natural for him to take full responsibility for his actions, be accountable to the people, and keep on the straight and narrow path of truth.

We, the conveners and the three thousand members of the Black and White Movement and Black and White Youth Movement laud the selfless act of our lead convener. Enteng has raised the bar of public service to a standard we must require as a matter of course from all public servants. We expect nothing less from our leaders.